All of my senior year of high school I couldn’t wait to graduate and jump into the fun, crazy, adventure-filled that was college. My friends that graduated before me made it seem like this huge party where there was no drama, no stress and no “ragrets”. I was so excited I even started my “college” experience early I went and stayed with my best friends at the big state school for a few weeks of the summer and it made me even more excited to officially start at my school.

When I actually started, the first few days were fun. Making friends was awkward (as everyone will tell you). Google maps and sending your location was my holy grail for getting around until I learned what was what and what direction I headed to go where. As syllabus week progressed and the struggles of being a bio-major and at a small school started, college wasn’t this massive funfest with no drama and no stress.

I knew that my major was going to be hard, that was more than clear, but I didn’t expect my homework to be more fun than having friends and a social life in college. Going to a small school means knowing everyone and brings forth a cozier environment in the sense that people all say hi and such. Not to my benefit, I got a clique that made me feel so dependent on doing homework together and going out together and so on. But I’m not one to drama and have needless confrontation, so as the year went by and there were major problems in my clique and people started attacking others, I stepped out. This caused for me to end up how I came to school – alone.

At first it sucked and it made me realize everything that I hated about picking the school I did. Originally I didn’t pick my “dream college"even though I got accepted into it. All of the intense drama made me apply to transfer out (I know running from my problems)… BUT I didn’t. Two weeks later I decided to take the bulls by the horn and decided to find a new cozy oaks home in my school. I applied for recruitment, I branched out and got to know new people in my dorm hall, at our hang out den, and I talked to new people in my classes. I made it work.

This process was not easy since everyone knows it’s not easy to rebuild themselves. But one thing made it easy, joining Greek life. I worked my butt off the week before to build my confidence and to prepare myself for the hell that was recruitment. But when the first day rolled around I realized I didn’t need any of that because recruitment brought me my confidence, personality, bubbliness and fun. I had the week of my life (especially on bid day when I ran home to “the best”). Chanting and cheering “Thaa, Thaa, Theta Phi” made me feel more butterflies and goosebumps than I’ve ever felt with anyone. Joining my sorority opened my eyes to everything I was that my terrible college drama took from me. From that day forth change occurred and life in college became fun. I learned to venture the ropes to bio because of my sisters that were bio. I started to go out again, and boy were those good nights. I became very independent and self driven like I used to be. And most importantly, I found my love for Leo back.

So moral of the story, college isn’t this big party you see in movies or you hear from your friends. College is the same as high school, plus fun times at random frat houses and a lot more difficult classes. BUT college is also what you put in you get out and whether times are hard and suck it’s still going to be pretty dang fun!

Estela|Sweet Southern Prep